Quadratic

Definition

Quadratic in plain English

A quadratic is a specific, very common type of polynomial where the highest power of the variable is exactly 2, something like x^2 + 4x + 3. That little squared term is what makes it special: instead of graphing as a straight line, it curves into a U-shape (or upside-down U), which is why quadratics describe things like a thrown ball's arc. 'Degree 2' simply means 2 is the biggest exponent in the expression.

Related GMAT terms

• Absolute Value
• Arithmetic Mean
• Composite Number
• Discrete Data
• Discriminant
• Domain
• Exponent
• Factorial
• Greatest Common Divisor (GCD)
• Independent Events